Provided is a floor structure of a vehicle having a pedal device to be pressed down by a driver seated in a driver seat of the vehicle. The floor structure is arranged relative to the pedal device and includes: a heel stopper part located substantially below the pedal device; and a pedal stopper part located on a vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part and serving to prevent the pedal device from being excessively pressed down by the driver. The heel stopper part and the pedal stopper part are formed integrally with each other.
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1. A floor structure of a vehicle comprising a pedal device to be pressed down by a driver seated in a driver seat of the vehicle, the floor structure arranged relative to the pedal device and comprising:
a heel stopper part located substantially below the pedal device;
a pedal stopper part located on a vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part and serving to prevent the pedal device from being excessively pressed down by the driver;
a footrest part located offset from the heel stopper part in a vehicle width direction;
a connection part that connects between the footrest part and the heel stopper part in the vehicle width direction; and
a floor panel having a forward end portion with respect to the vehicle, the connection part being disposed on the forward end portion of the floor panel,
wherein the heel stopper part and the pedal stopper part are formed integrally with each other, and
wherein the connection part is located on a vehicle-forward side relative to the footrest part, the heel stopper part, and the pedal device.
2. The floor structure of
wherein the pedal device comprises an accelerator pedal to be pressed down by the driver and the heel stopper part is located substantially below the accelerator pedal, and
wherein the pedal stopper part is an accelerator pedal stopper part that prevents the accelerator pedal from being excessively pressed down by the driver.
3. The floor structure of
wherein the pedal device further comprises a brake pedal to be pressed down by the driver,
wherein the connection part is located at a position such that the brake pedal is pivoted toward the position when pressed down by the driver.
4. The floor structure of
wherein the accelerator pedal has a lower end located on a vehicle-forward side relative to the heel stopper part.
5. The floor structure of
wherein the heel stopper part has a first sloped surface formed thereon and having a first area and the pedal stopper part has a second sloped surface formed thereon and having a second area smaller than the first area, and
wherein the first sloped surface has a substantially trapezoid shape with a bottom width and a top width narrower than the bottom width.
6. The floor structure of
wherein the footrest part has a lower end located at substantially the same height as a lower end of the heel stopper part and has a first sloped surface formed thereon,
wherein the heel stopper part has a second sloped surface formed thereon, and
wherein the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface have substantially the same inclination angle.
7. The floor structure of
wherein the heel stopper part has a sloped surface formed thereon such that, as seen from a side of the vehicle, an imaginary line drawn tangent to the sloped surface is substantially tangent to the pedal stopper part.
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The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-178852, filed Sep. 25, 2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to a floor structure arranged relative to a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a vehicle, which are to be pressed down by a driver seated in a driver seat using his/her foot.
Conventionally, a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, which are to be pressed down by a driver using his/her foot, are arranged at positions in front of and below the driver seat of the vehicle. In general, the floor in front of the driver seat has a footrest part on which the driver places his/her foot operating the brake pedal and a heel stopper part on which the driver places his/her foot operating the accelerator pedal (see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6352842).
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6352842 discloses a vehicle floor spacer including a base body (30) having a horizontal pad (10) integrally formed with a footrest part (21) and a heel stopper part (22).
The vehicle floor space disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication suffer from a problem in that when the driver applies an excessive force to the accelerator pedal while operating the accelerator pedal using the heel stopper part (22) as a fulcrum, the accelerator pedal could be pressed down excessively.
An object of the present invention is to provide a floor structure capable of preventing a pedal, such as an accelerator pedal, from being pressed down excessively.
To achieve the above object, an aspect of the present invention is a floor structure of a vehicle having a pedal device to be pressed down by a driver seated in a driver seat of the vehicle.
The floor structure is arranged relative to the pedal device and includes: a heel stopper part located substantially below the pedal device; and a pedal stopper part located on a vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part and serving to prevent the pedal device from being excessively pressed down by the driver. The heel stopper part and the pedal stopper part are formed integrally with each other.
The present invention provides a floor structure capable of preventing a pedal, such as an accelerator pedal, from being pressed down excessively.
Hereinafter, descriptions will be given of a floor structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to
The embodiment of the present invention will be described by exemplifying a case of a right-hand drive, automatic transmission vehicle equipped with a brake pedal 2 and an accelerator pedal 3.
The descriptions will be provided as appropriate with “front”, “rear”, “up”, “down”, “left” and “right” representing a forward direction of, a rearward direction of, a vertically upward direction from, a vertically downward direction from, and width directions of the vehicle.
As shown in
The footrest member 4 may be integrally formed with the floor panel 10 or may be formed separately from the floor panel 10 and fixed to the floor panel 10. Hereinafter, a case in which the footrest member 4 and the floor panel 10 are formed separately will be described by way of example.
The floor panel 10 is a thin, plate-like metal member constituting a floor of the passenger compartment. The floor panel 10 includes a horizontal panel portion 11 and a toe board portion 12. The horizontal panel portion 11 extends horizontally. The toe board portion 12 extends forward and obliquely upward from a front-end portion of the horizontal panel portion 11, defining an obtuse angle with the horizontal panel portion 11.
The toe board portion 12 extends substantially upward to connect to a vertical portion of a dashboard 13.
The brake pedal 2 is configured for operation by a foot of the driver. The driver presses the brake pedal 2 by his/her foot to brake the vehicle. As shown in
The pedal pad 2a is a plate-like member having a length extending in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) and is a part (pressing point) where the driver puts down his/her hoot. The pedal arm 2b is pivotably supported about a rotational axis 2c extending in the vehicle width direction above the pedal pad 2a.
The accelerator pedal 3 is configured for operation by a foot of the driver. The driver presses the accelerator pedal 3 by his/her foot to accelerate the vehicle. As shown in
The pedal pad 3a is a plate-like member having an inclined length extending inclined relative to the vehicle front-rear direction and is a part (pressing point) where the driver puts down his/her hoot. The pedal arm 3b is pivotably supported about a rotational axis 3c extending in the vehicle width direction above the pedal pad 3a.
The brake pedal 2 and the accelerator pedal 3 are mounted in a suspended manner for example, as shown in
The footrest member 4 is a member on which the driver, who operates the brake pedal 2 and the accelerator pedal 3, places his/her foot. The footrest member 4 is a pedestal-like member made of a resin or a metal.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 has a sloped surface 42a formed thereon. As shown in
The area S21 of the upper portion 41b of the sloped surface 41a of the heel stopper part 41 is smaller than the area S22 of the lower portion 41c of the sloped surface 41a of the heel stopper part 41. The vehicle width direction length L2 of the upper portion 41b (upper-side lateral width L2 of the sloped surface 41a) is smaller than the vehicle width direction length L3 of the lower portion 41c (lower-side lateral width L3 of the sloped surface 41a). In other words, in front view, the sloped surface 41a of the heel stopper part 41 has a substantially trapezoid shape with a top width (L2) and a bottom width (L3) larger than the top width, i.e., L2 is smaller than L3.
This structure allows the driver to easily move his/her right foot between the accelerator pedal 3 and the brake pedal 2 in a stable manner because, when the driver attempts to move his/her right foot between the accelerator pedal 3 and the brake pedal 2, this structure allows the driver to place the heel of his/her right foot on the heel stopper part 41 in a stable manner and direct the toe of the right foot to the brake pedal pad 2a or to the accelerator pedal pad 3a in a good manner. The stepped portion 45 is formed between the heel stopper part 41 and the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 and is substantially horizontal.
The stepped portion 45 is located substantially below and slightly forwardly of the pedal pad 3a of the accelerator pedal 3 in side view. The stepped portion 45 has a substantially trapezoid shape in plan view, tapering from a wider rear width (L2) to a narrower front width (L1).
As shown in
The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 is a portion that abuts against the pedal pad 3a when the driver presses down the accelerator pedal 3 by an amount further than a predetermined amount of pressing, to restrain the accelerator pedal 3 from pivoting further. The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 of the footrest member 4 is located on a vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part 41, which is located substantially below the accelerator pedal 3. The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 is located substantially below and forwardly of the pedal pad 3a of the accelerator pedal 3 in rear view. The lower end portion of the accelerator pedal 3 is located on a vehicle-forward side relative to the rear end portion of the heel stopper part 41. The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 has a substantially trapezoid shape in front view, tapering from a wider bottom width (L1) to a narrower top width. The sloped surface 42a of the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 defines an angle θ3 of, for example, 65.6 degrees with the horizontal panel portion 11 of the floor panel 10. The accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portion 46 is formed extending from an upper end of the sloped surface 42a of the accelerator pedal stopper part 42.
The accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portion 46 is located forwardly of the pedal pad 3a of the accelerator pedal 3 in side view. The accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portion 46 has a substantially right-triangle shape in plan view.
As shown in
The footrest part 43 is formed on the left end of the footrest member 4. The footrest part 43 is located on the left side of the brake pedal 2 in rear view. The sloped surface 43a of the footrest part 43 is upwardly and forwardly inclined from a rear lower end of the footrest part 43. With this structure, while driving the vehicle, the driver can favorably place the heel of his/her left foot on the sloped surface 43a of the footrest part 43 in such a way that the heel is face-to-face contact with the sloped surface 43a.
As shown in
As shown in
The connection part 44 is located forwardly relative to the rear lower end portion of the footrest part 43 and is apart therefrom by a distance L7 in the vehicle forward direction.
The connection part 44 is made of a plate-shaped member arranged substantially parallel to the sloped surface 43a of the footrest part 43. Thus, the connection part 44 has substantially the same inclination angle as the sloped surface 43a. The connection part 44 defines, together with the footrest part 43 and the heel stopper part 41, a recess 4a having a recessed shape in plan view on the rear side of the connection part 44. The pedal pad 2a of the brake pedal 2 is located in the recess 4a. In other words, the connection part 44 is located at a position such the brake pedal 2 is pivoted toward the position when the brake pedal 2 is pressed down, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The recess 4a provides a concavity in which the brake pedal 2 is pivotably arranged as shown in
As shown in
Next, with reference to
When the driver drives the vehicle, the diver places his/her left foot on the sloped surface 43a of the footrest part 43, places the heel of his/her right foot on the heel stopper part 41, and presses down the accelerator pedal 3. When the driver presses down the accelerator pedal 3 by an amount greater than a predetermined amount of pressing, the pedal pad 3a of the accelerator pedal 3 abuts against the sloped surface 42a of the accelerator pedal stopper part 42, thereby restraining the accelerator pedal 3 from being pressed down excessively.
When the driver applies a brake, the driver places the heel of his/her right foot on the sloped surface 41a of the heel stopper part 41 and presses down the brake pedal 2 by the right foot.
As described, the floor structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is for a vehicle including a brake pedal 2 and an accelerator pedal 3 which are to be pressed down by a driver seated in a driver seat of the vehicle to operate the vehicle. The floor structure 1 is arranged relative to the brake pedal 2 and the accelerator pedal 3 and includes: the heel stopper part 41, which is located substantially below the accelerator pedal 3; and the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part), which is located on a vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part 41, wherein the heel stopper part 41 and the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 are formed integrally with each other.
According to the floor structure 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part) is located on the vehicle-forward side of the heel stopper part 41, which is located substantially below the accelerator pedal 3. With this structure, even when the driver attempts to excessively press down the accelerator pedal 3, the accelerator pedal 3 abuts against the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part). As a result, the accelerator pedal 3 is prevented from being pressed down excessively.
Moreover, the heel stopper part 41 and the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part) are formed integrally with each other. With this structure, even when the driver presses down the accelerator pedal 3 while placing his/her foot on the heel stopper part 41, the foot would not be disengaged from the heel stopper part when the accelerator pedal 3 comes into abutment with the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part).
As shown in
With this structure, the connection part 44 does not extend over the floor surface where the feet of the driver are placed and thus does not narrow the floor space. Moreover, the integrally formed footrest member 4 can be installed even in a vehicle with narrow floor space.
The connection part 44 is preferably located at a position such that the brake pedal 2 is pivoted toward the position when pressed down, as shown in
With this structure, as the connection part 44 is located on the vehicle-forward side relative to the footrest part 43 and the heel stopper part 41, the connection part 44 does not obstruct the press operation on the brake pedal 2.
The lower end portion of the accelerator pedal 3 is preferably located on a vehicle-forward side relative to the heel stopper part 41 as shown in
With this configuration, when the driver, while placing his/her foot on the heel stopper part 41, moves the his/her foot from a pedal which the driver has been operating to another pedal to operate it, the foot of the driver is not likely to come into contact with the accelerator pedal 3. Thus, the configuration allows the driver to operate the pedals smoothly even after his/her foot leaves from the heel stopper part 41.
As shown in
With this structure, the footrest member 4 allows the driver to easily place his/her foot on the heel stopper part 41 while preventing the driver from placing his/her foot on the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part) by eliminating an area for placing the foot. Accordingly, the footrest member 4 prevents the foot of the driver from being caught on the back side of a pedal.
As shown in
This structure eliminates uncomfortable feeling when the driver places his/her feet on the footrest part 43 and on the heel stopper part 41 at the same time, and increases design quality.
As shown in
This configuration allows the driver to, while placing his/her foot on the heel stopper part 41, press down the accelerator pedal 3 to the accelerator pedal stopper part 42 (pedal stopper part).
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment. It is a matter of course that: the present invention can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the technical ideas; and the present invention covers inventions obtained through these modifications and changes.
The footrest member 4, which has been described by way of example, is one for a right-hand drive vehicle. One for a left handle drive vehicle can be constructed like the footrest member 4A shown in
The footrest member 4A integrally includes a heel stopper part 41A, an accelerator pedal stopper part 42A, a footrest part 43A, a connection part 44A, a stepped portion 45A, an accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portions 46Aa and 46Ab, and a footrest part upper flat portion 47A.
The footrest member 4A is similar to the footrest member 4 of the above-described embodiment in that the footrest member 4 includes the heel stopper part 41A, the accelerator pedal stopper part 42A, the footrest part 43A, the connection part 44A, the stepped portion 45A, and the footrest part upper flat portion 47A. The footrest member 4A differs from the footrest member 4 of the above-described embodiment in that the footrest member 4 of the above-described embodiment includes the one accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portion 46 whereas the footrest member 4A of the modification includes the two of the accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portions 46Aa and 46Ab.
Moreover, the footrest member 4A of the modification differs from the footrest member 4 of the above-described embodiment in that the heel stopper part 41A, the accelerator pedal stopper part 42A, the stepped portion 45A, the accelerator pedal stopper part upper flat portions 46Aa and 46Ab each has substantially the same lateral width.
The floor structure 1 according to the embodiment has been described by way of example as having the brake pedal 2 and the accelerator pedal 3, which are arranged at positions in front of and below the driver seat of the vehicle to be operated by the right foot of the driver. But the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the floor structure 1 may include a parking brake pedal to be operated by the left foot of the driver.
Moreover, the structure of the footrest member 4 of the floor structure 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the structure of the footrest member 4A of the floor structure 1 according to the modification can be applied to a manual vehicle provided with a clutch pedal in addition to the brake pedal 2 and the accelerator pedal 3. In this case, the recess 4a is modified to increase the lateral width thereof so that a clutch pedal can be arranged on the left side of the brake pedal 2.
The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 of the embodiment has been described by way of example as being formed on the footrest member 4 as an example of pedal stopper part. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a pedal to be operated by the driver, such as the brake pedal 2 or the clutch pedal (not shown), may be provided with a pedal stopper part located below the pedal. Such a pedal stopper part can prevent the pedal, i.e., the brake pedal 2 or the clutch pedal (not shown), from being excessively pressed down.
The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 is the most preferable pedal stopper part to be provided.
The accelerator pedal 3 is highly likely to be used (pressed down) by the driver for a long period of time while driving the vehicle. The accelerator pedal stopper part 42 arranged relative to the accelerator pedal 3 serves to provide a press position of the foot pressing down the accelerator pedal 3. As a result, the burden of the driver is greatly decreased.
Iwasaki, Hiroyuki, Okutomi, Yoshiaki
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| Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
| Sep 05 2019 | IWASAKI, HIROYUKI | HONDA MOTOR CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 050459 | /0963 | |
| Sep 05 2019 | OKUTOMI, YOSHIAKI | HONDA MOTOR CO , LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 050459 | /0963 | |
| Sep 23 2019 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / |
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